Page 122 of Break the Barrier

“Oh, a little.” I give her a small smile. “It’s almost healed, but it gives me a bit of trouble still.”

Didi’s eyes stay locked on mine for a moment, and I know she’s working through whatever she needs to say. I just hope she’s not too harsh and doesn’t make me cry.

I’m far too susceptible to crying these days.

“You know when you went missing, both Lue and Logan were beside themselves.” She sighs and looks down at her crossed legs, brushing off imaginary lint. “I couldn’t get Lue to calm down when Logan took off to find you, and it was forty-eight hours of pacing for her. Of course, Logan tried to keep us updated, but he was just as bad.”

“I’m so sorry, Didi. I really shouldn’t have?—”

“Now, hold on.” She reaches over, placing her hand on top of my own. “I’m not saying any of this to hurt your feelings, Thea. I’m saying it to give you a different perspective. I know that man badly hurt you, more than once.”

Unable to help it, my eyes well with tears.

“I know you were trying your best to keep my family safe, to keep your family safe. But that’s just not how it should work, honey.”

I shake my head, my lip trembling until I tuck it into my teeth.

“You have to learn how to lean on your family. You have to know that Logan doesn’t want any battle you fight to be fought alone, he just wants to be there for you, and Lue wants to aswell, even if her part in that is drastically different from Logan’s.

“My son loves you more than I’ve ever seen him love someone who isn’t blood. He would lay down his life for yours in a second, and I see you would do the same for him.”

“I would,” I whisper, wiping away tears. “I love him, Didi.”

“I know you do.” She takes my hand in hers and squeezes it tight. “He loves you too, you know.”

More tears escape, and I accept the tissue that Didi hands me.

“And as my daughter-in-law.” My head snaps up to hers, and she tilts her head in the direction Lue was, and I smile slightly. “I expect you to keep fighting for that stubborn son of mine. Because I know deep down, he just needs to see that you’re not going to run out on him again.”

“I’m not,” I promise.

She looks me in the eye and smiles. “Good. Don’t stop fighting, Thea.”

Lue comes out then, and we both gasp when we see her, watching her smile light up her whole face.

Didi smiles and nods proudly at her granddaughter. “That’s the one.”

50

logan

I pacearound the living room, my heart in my throat as I wait for Lue to emerge.

Thea showed up two hours ago, her hands full of hair and makeup supplies and if I’m not mistaken, lots of snacks.

Lue had rushed past me and grabbed hold of Thea, tugging her down the hallway before I could say more than three words to her.

I was jealous of the easy way their relationship seemed to be going.

I want more than anything to find my way back to Thea.

She was putting in the effort, she was showing up in more than one way for my daughter, for me, and I was ready to start doing the same.

I just didn’t know how.

It wasn’t like I could grab her and kiss her and promise her that I was ready. She deserved a little more than that.

More than once, she has come over and cooked dinner whileI worked, leaving it for Lue and me and going home on her own. I even invited her to stay last time, but she had to get to work and couldn’t.